How life has changed in Bolton

Bolton's population increased by about 15,700 between the last two censuses. This semi-automated article highlights some of the key changes among the local population.

The population reached nearly 280,000

In the decade to 2011, the population of Bolton increased by 6.0%, from just over 261,000 to 277,000.

The addition of almost 16,000 people means this area's population increased at a slower rate than the total population of England (up 7.9% since the 2001 census).

In 2011, Bolton was home to, on average, 14 people per football pitch-sized piece of land.

Population density was higher than the average across the North West

Population density (usual residents per football pitch-sized piece of land) across the North West, March 2011 (larger dots represent greater increase since 2001)

An older Bolton

Census 2011 data also show a change in the local population's average age.

Between the last two censuses, the median age of Bolton increased by one year, from 37 to 38 years.

This area had a slightly lower average age than the North West and became slightly younger than the average local authority area across England (39 years of age).

The fall in age was because of an increase of just under 7,200 people between the ages of 40 and 49 years, while the population between 30 and 39 years decreased by just over 4,000.

About 15.0% of people in Bolton are aged between 40 and 49 years

Percentage of usual residents in England, North West and Bolton by 10 year age band, March 2001 and March 2011

Religion in Bolton

The 2011 Census asked a voluntary question about religion. Of those who chose to disclose their religious affiliation, the largest percentage point increase in Bolton was among those who said they had no religion, rising 8.8 points.

In 2011, 18.2% of respondents in Bolton gave this answer to the question on religion, compared with 9.4% of those who answered in 2001.

Across the North West, the percentage of people who answered the question on religion and described themselves as having no religion increased from 11.3% to 21.1%, while across England the percentage went from 15.7% to 26.5%.

Of those who disclosed their religion in Bolton, 66.5% said they were Christian, compared with 80.4% in 2001. About 12.4% said they were Muslim, compared with 7.6% a decade prior.

The percentage of people who disclosed a religious affiliation and said they were Hindu increased from 2.2% to 2.3%.

In Bolton, 5.7% chose not to answer the question on religious affiliation, compared with 7.3% in 2001. Across the North West, 6.2% did not answer the voluntary question, compared with 7.7% in 2001. Across England, 7.2% of people did not answer, compared with 7.7% in 2001.

The population that said they had no religion in Bolton increased by 8.8 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents who answered the voluntary question on religion in England, North West and Bolton by religion, March 2001 and March 2011

Disability in Bolton

The percentage of Bolton residents whose day-to-day activities are not limited by a long-term health problem or disability remained close to 88.9% in the 10 years leading up to 2011.

In 2011, just over 1 in 25 (4.5%) reported being limited a lot in their day-to-day activities, compared with 3.8% in 2001. The percentage of Bolton residents whose day-to-day activities are limited a little by a long-term health problem or disability decreased from 7.1% to 6.6%.

The proportion of people who aren't limited by a long-term health problem or disability fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the North West (which remained close to 88.9%). Across England, the percentage remained close to 89.8%.

The proportion of people who aren't limited by a long-term health problem or disability was higher than across the North West

Percentage of usual residents that reported not being limited in their day-to-day activities across local authority areas in the North West and the average across England, March 2011

Rise in private renting

The percentage of households in Bolton that rented privately increased from 6.0% to 13.7% in the decade leading up to the most recent census.

In 2011, just over one in five (20.5%) households lived in social housing, compared with 21.8% in 2001. The percentage of Bolton households that owned their home decreased from 69.1% to 63.7%.

The proportion of privately rented homes increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the North West (from 8.5% in 2001 to 15.4% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 9.9% to 16.9%.

Private renting in Bolton increased by 7.7 percentage points

Percentage of households in Bolton, the North West and England that rented privately, March 2001 and March 2011

More single people in Bolton

The percentage of single people in Bolton increased from 28.4% to 33.6% in the 10 years leading up to the latest census.

In 2011, just under one in two (46.7%) people aged 16 and over said they were married, compared with 51.3% in 2001. The percentage of adults in Bolton that had divorced or separated from a married or civil partner increased from 11.4% to 12.5%.

The proportion of people who had never been married or in a civil partnership increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the North West (from 30.1% in 2001 to 35.6% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 30.5% to 34.9%.

The proportion of people who had never married or entered a civil partnership was lower than across the North West

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 and over that said they were single across local authority areas in the North West and the average across England, March 2011

Ethnicity in Bolton

In 2011, 14.0% of Bolton residents said they were from the Asian or Asian British ethnic groups, up from 9.3% in 2001. The 4.8 percentage point change was the largest increase among ethnic groups in this area.

Across the North West, the percentage of people from the Asian or Asian British ethnic groups increased from 3.8% to 6.2%, while across England the percentage went from 5.2% to 8.0%.

Around 81.9% of people in Bolton said they were from one of the White ethnic groups, compared with 89.0% in 2001. About 1.8% said they were from Mixed/multiple ethnic groups (White and Asian, White and Black African, White and Black Caribbean or Other Mixed), compared with 1.0% a decade prior.

The percentage of people who said they were from the Black, Black British, Caribbean or African ethnic groups increased from 0.6% to 1.7%.

The population from the Asian or Asian British ethnic groups in Bolton increased by 4.8 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in England, North West and Bolton by ethnicity, March 2001 and March 2011

Health improved

The percentage of Bolton residents that described their health as bad or very bad decreased from 11.0% to 6.6% between the last two censuses.

Rates are standardised to account for variation in age, which can impact the local population's health.

In 2011, just under 8 in 10 (79.2%) said their health was good or very good, compared with 67.0% in 2001. The percentage of Bolton residents that described their health as fair decreased from 22.0% to 14.1%.

The proportion of residents that perceived their health as bad or very bad fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the North West (from 11.0% in 2001 to 6.8% in 2011). Across England, the percentage fell from 9.1% to 5.5%.

These data are people’s own opinions in describing their overall health. They may be inconsistent with other measures of health, such as NHS records.

The percentage of people in ’bad’ or ’very bad’ health in Bolton decreased by 4.4 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in Bolton, the North West and England said their health was bad or very bad, March 2001 and March 2011

Fewer people worked long hours

The percentage of employed people in Bolton working more than 49 hours in the week before the census decreased from 10.1% to 7.8% in the decade to 2011.

In 2011, just under 1 in 30 (2.9%) people aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) said they had worked less than 16 hours the previous week, compared with 1.6% in 2001.

The proportion of people working long hours fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the North West (from 11.1% in 2001 to 8.3% in 2011). Across England, the percentage fell from 13.0% to 10.1%.

Long hour working in Bolton decreased by 2.4 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) in Bolton, the North West and England that said they had worked over 49 hours the week before completing the census, March 2001 and March 2011

Rise in rate of unemployment

The percentage of Bolton residents that were unemployed increased from 3.5% to 4.9% in the 10 years leading up to 2011.

In 2011, just over one in two (51.0%) people aged 16 to 74 said they were employed, compared with 52.4% in 2001. The percentage of Bolton residents that were self-employed increased from 7.0% to 8.1%.

The proportion of unemployed people increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the North West (from 3.6% in 2001 to 4.7% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 3.4% to 4.4%.

The rate of unemployment in Bolton increased by 1.5 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 in Bolton, the North West and England that said they were unemployed, March 2001 and March 2011

More people living alone

The percentage of households in Bolton, which comprised one person, increased from 30.6% to 31.9% in the decade leading up to the most recent census.

In 2011, about 1 in 10 (10.0%) households had an unmarried couple, compared with 8.5% in 2001. The percentage of households in Bolton which comprised a married couple (with or without children) decreased from 37.2% to 32.8%.

The proportion of one-person households increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the North West (from 30.9% in 2001 to 32.2% in 2011). Across England, the percentage remained close to 30.3%.

The percentage of households with only one person was lower than across the North West

Percentage of households that comprised only one person across local authority areas in the North West and the average across England, March 2011

Changes in family structure

The percentage of households in Bolton without children increased from 57.8% to 58.7% in the 10 years leading up to the latest census.

In 2011, just over 3 in 10 (31.1%) households had at least one dependent child, compared with 32.0% in 2001. The percentage of households in Bolton with only adult children living with their parents remained close to 10.2%.

The proportion of households without children increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the North West (from 59.3% in 2001 to 60.8% in 2011). Across England, the percentage remained close to 61.2%.

The proportion of households without children was lower than across the North West

Percentage of households without children across local authority areas in the North West and the average across England, March 2011

Change in unpaid care

The percentage of Bolton residents that provided between 20 and 49 hours of weekly unpaid care increased from 1.4% to 1.6% between the last two censuses.

In 2011, just over 1 in 40 (2.9%) reported providing at least 50 hours of unpaid care each week, compared with 2.4% in 2001.

The proportion of people providing between 20 and 49 hours of weekly unpaid care increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the North West (from 1.3% in 2001 to 1.6% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 1.1% to 1.4%.

The proportion of people providing between 20 and 49 hours of weekly unpaid care in Bolton remained close to 1.6%

Percentage of usual residents in England, North West and Bolton by care, March 2001 and March 2011

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